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Dr. Barbara Sponsel is a tenured faculty member teaching in the Department of Mathematics at Newman University since 1999. As a Professor of Mathematics, Barbara has taught a variety of courses in the areas of algebra, calculus, geometry, and statistics. For the School of Education, Dr. Sponsel has taught Specific Methods of Teaching Mathematics for secondary education majors. In addition to teaching, Professor Sponsel has served on a multitude of Newman University committees (e.g., Faculty Senate Faculty Evaluation Committee (2013-16); Faculty Senate Professional Development Committee (2009-12); Gerber Institute Executive Board (2011-15); Faculty Senate President (2018-19)). Dr. Sponsel has also served as the STEM Club co-faculty advisor from 2015-present. Professor Sponsel earned an M.S. in Mathematics from Wichita State University in 1993, and a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction for Mathematics Education from Kansas State University in 2010. After completing her doctorate, she secured federal funding ($699,000.00 total) for two three-year Math and Science Partnership Title IIB grants (“Using Mathematics Practices to Understand Content” 2012-2015, and “Teacher Inquiry into Math, Engineering, and Science Practices” 2015-2018). As the director and principal investigator for these projects, Dr. Sponsel led collaboration between Newman University’s Division of Science and Mathematics, and the School of Education. In addition, Dr. Sponsel developed partnerships with Wichita area school districts including the Haysville Public School District (USD 261), Belle Plaine Public School District (USD 357), Wichita Public School District (USD 259), and the Diocese of Wichita Catholic Schools. Furthermore, Westar Energy served as a business partner for the second grant. The projects sought a collegial professional learning structure aimed at strengthening teacher participants’ content knowledge in math and science, enhancing teachers’ abilities to implement Kansas College and Career Ready Standards for Mathematics and Science, and enhancing teachers’ capacity to integrate STEM education. By providing sustained professional development for teachers, the projects ultimately supported the academic achievement of the teacher participants’ students in mathematics and science. Professor Sponsel is married, and has five children and three grandchildren. She enjoys spending time with her family, and watching her family participate in sports and the performing arts.